The Past Perfect Progressive
FORM: had + been + verb+ing
The past perfect progressive is often used to emphasize how long an activity was in progress before another activity or time in the past.
- They had been trying to emigrate for three years before they were successful.
- Had we been walking for two days before we were rescued?
- I had been studying for long before the bell rang.
The past perfect progressive is also used to show a general activity in progress recent to another time in the past.
- When I got home, I was still sweating because I had been exercising at the gym.
- I had been studying hard but stopped shortly before I entered university.
Statement
{ I – You – We – They – He – She – It } had been sleeping for three hours when the phone rang.
Negative
{ I – You – We – They – He – She – It} had not been sleeping for three hours when the phone rang.
Question
Had { I – you – we – they – he – she – it } been sleeping for three hours when the phone rang?
Short Answer
Yes, { I – you – we – they – he – she – it } had.
No, { I – you – we – they – he – she – it } hadn’t.